Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An information processing apparatus comprising: a machine comprising a display panel, wherein the machine is configured to act as: an operating tool detector to detect a touch state of an operating tool with the display panel, wherein the touch state concerns interaction with an object displayed on the display panel; a display controller to, in response to the operating tool detector detecting a first rotation of the operating tool away from a first pointing direction to a second pointing direction by at least a predetermined angle, control the display panel to display an operation menu in a graphical interface comprising one or more selectable operation items for the object displayed on the display; and an operation item selecting portion to, in response to the operating tool detector detecting a second rotation of the operating tool away from the second pointing direction to a third pointing direction, select one of the selectable operating items from the operation menu based at least in part on the third pointing direction.
A device with a touchscreen displays a menu based on how you rotate your finger (or stylus) on the screen. When you touch an object on the screen and rotate your finger a certain amount from an initial direction, a menu pops up near that object. The menu contains selectable options related to the object. By continuing to rotate your finger, you can then select one of the menu options based on the final direction of your finger's rotation. The device detects the touch, the rotation, and the final direction to display the menu and select an option.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: the operation item selecting portion is configured to select an operation item displayed in the operation menu at a position on a line extending in the third pointing direction.
Building upon the device described previously where rotating a finger on the screen displays a menu, the selection of the menu item works by choosing the item that's located on a direct line extending from the final direction of the finger rotation. So, imagine a line shooting out from your finger's final rotation direction; whatever menu item that line hits is the one that gets selected.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: the operation item selecting portion is configured to, in response to the operating tool detector detecting the second rotation, select an operation item displayed in the operation menu at a position on a line extending from a fourth pointing direction defined by a change amount obtained by multiplying the amount of change in the pointing direction of the operating tool from the second pointing direction to the third pointing direction by a coefficient a, the coefficient a being larger than 1.
Expanding on the device described previously, the menu item selection mechanism is further enhanced. When a second rotation is detected, the selection isn't based on the direct final pointing direction. Instead, the system calculates a "selection direction" by multiplying the change in rotation angle by a coefficient ('a') greater than 1. The menu item positioned on a line extending from this calculated "selection direction" is then selected. This amplifies the rotation, making selection easier with small finger movements.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein: the display controller is configured to, in response to the operating tool detector detecting the second rotation, control the display panel to rotate the selectable operation items of the operation menu by a change amount obtained by multiplying the amount of the change in the pointing direction of the operating tool from the second pointing direction to the third pointing direction by a coefficient (1−a).
Using the enhanced selection described previously where a coefficient 'a' is used to amplify the rotation for selecting a menu item, the menu items themselves are also rotated. The amount of rotation applied to the menu items is calculated by multiplying the finger's change in pointing direction by (1 - a). Since 'a' is greater than 1, the menu items rotate in the opposite direction of the finger's rotation. This provides visual feedback to the user as they select a menu item.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: the machine is further configured to, in response to the operating tool detector detecting a non-touch state of the operating tool at a time that the operation menu is displayed in response to the second rotation, execute the operation item selected by the operation item selecting portion.
Considering the device with menu selection through finger rotation described previously, after the menu is displayed and a menu item is selected based on finger rotation, lifting your finger (or stylus) off the screen triggers the execution of the selected menu item. So, the whole flow is: touch, rotate to display menu, rotate again to select, lift finger to activate the selected action.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: the display controller is further configured to, in response to the operating tool detector detecting movement of the operating tool a predetermined distance or more, stop display of the operation menu.
The device with touch-based menu activation and selection described previously includes a mechanism to dismiss the menu. If, after the menu appears following the initial finger rotation, the finger moves a certain distance away from the initial touch point, the menu disappears. This prevents accidental activation of menu options if the user's finger slips or moves unintentionally while the menu is displayed.
7. An method for facilitating display of a menu and selection of menu items on a touch screen interface, comprising: detecting a touch state of an operating tool with a display panel, wherein the touch state concerns interaction with an object displayed on the display panel; in response to detecting a first rotation of the operating tool away from a first pointing direction to a second pointing direction by at least a predetermined angle, controlling the display panel to display an operation menu in a graphical interface comprising one or more selectable operation items for the object displayed on the display panel; and in response detecting a second rotation of the operating tool away from the second pointing direction to a third pointing direction, selecting one of the selectable operating items from the operation menu based at least in part on the third pointing direction.
A method for displaying a menu and selecting items on a touchscreen: First, the device detects a touch on the screen. If the user then rotates their finger a certain amount from its starting direction, a menu appears showing options for whatever was touched. Then, rotating the finger again lets the user pick an option from the menu, based on the direction the finger is pointing.
8. The information processing method of claim 7 , further comprising: selecting one of the operation items from the operation menu based at least in part on an amount of the change in pointing direction from the second pointing direction to a third pointing direction, wherein the third pointing direction is between the first and second pointing directions.
Continuing from the method above, where rotating your finger brings up a menu and lets you pick an item, the actual menu selection is refined. When you rotate your finger to pick an option, the system also looks at how far you rotated your finger from the second pointing direction to the final (third) pointing direction. However, that final direction is BETWEEN the first and second directions. Based on BOTH how FAR you rotated AND the final direction, an item gets selected.
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August 12, 2014
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